Palmdale · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Palmdale
Palmdale sets fence heights by setback and fence type, allowing 6 feet in side and rear setbacks and 7 feet when the part above 6 feet is open view. Fences, walls and screening over 6 feet need a building permit.
Key points
- Front-yard fences: In residential and mixed-use front setbacks, fences are limited to 3 feet if sight-obscuring and 5 feet if open view.
- Accessory setbacks: Accessory structures over 10 feet tall need a 10-foot rear and interior side setback; those 10 feet or less, 5 feet.
- Home businesses: Home occupations need a home occupation clearance and city business license; no customers except for tutoring or lessons, and only resident employees.
Each rule below is marked Palmdale code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Palmdale code In residential and mixed-use front setbacks, fences are limited to 3 feet if sight-obscuring and 5 feet if open view.
All 8 Palmdale rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Palmdale code Accessory structures over 10 feet tall need a 10-foot rear and interior side setback; those 10 feet or less, 5 feet.
All 5 Palmdale rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Palmdale code Home occupations need a home occupation clearance and city business license; no customers except for tutoring or lessons, and only resident employees.
All 6 Palmdale rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Lot splits under SB 9
Palmdale code At least 4 feet from side and rear lot lines. No setback required.
All 11 Palmdale rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
| Parking on the street |
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Tree removal
Palmdale code The project proponent or agent may remove a detached dead western Joshua tree or limb. No mitigation fees.
Swimming pools
Palmdale code No openings larger than 50 square inches, except doors or gates. A rectangular opening may be larger if no horizontal side exceeds 4 inches.
All 10 Palmdale rules on swimming pools, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
Palmdale code Up to 1 hive per 4,000 square feet of lot area. Yes; up to 3 poultry or fowl in any mix per 10,000 square feet of lot area.
All 9 Palmdale rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
Palmdale code You need a development permit before construction or development starts in a special flood hazard area. Building into a floodway is not allowed unless a professional engineer certifies no rise in base flood levels.
All 7 Palmdale rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →
Building on a hillside
| Soils or geology report |
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|---|---|
| Grading and retaining walls |
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Park and impact fees for new homes
| Exemptions |
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Noise and construction hours
Palmdale code Construction is allowed only from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Construction allowed 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday; not allowed on Sunday.
All 3 Palmdale rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Outdoor lighting
Palmdale code Light color may be at most 3,000 Kelvin. Light at property lines may be at most 1/4 foot-candle.
All 4 Palmdale rules on outdoor lighting, with the code text →
Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| Local rules | Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Group homes and residential care
| Parking |
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Home alarm permits and false alarms
| How long an alarm may sound |
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Signs on homes
Palmdale code Allowed only for mandatory signs required by federal, state, county or other agencies. 1 sign of at most 4 square feet needs no permit.
All 4 Palmdale rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
| When carts must come back |
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| When carts may go to the curb |
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| Where carts are kept |
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Other Palmdale rules on this
Palmdale's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Fast permits for EV chargers (Ch. 10.08)
- Fast permits for home rooftop solar (Ch. 8.05)
- Hillside grading standards (§ 17.100.140) — hillside areas only
- Local grading code (§ 8.04.240)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Palmdale?
Palmdale's code: Man-made slopes may be at most 30 feet high. (Hillside-area projects, unless landform grading rules allow otherwise.) (§ 17.100.140); A geotechnical report is required with each hillside development application. (Hillside area projects. The Director may modify or eliminate this requirement after reviewing a specific project.) (§ 17.100.080).
Can I run a family child care home in Palmdale?
California law sets this for every city, including Palmdale: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).
Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in Palmdale?
Palmdale's code: All required off-street parking must be within 150 feet of at least one entrance. (Applies to large residential care facilities.) (§ 17.91.070).
Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Palmdale?
Palmdale's code: 30 minutes. (§ 9.40.020).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in Palmdale?
Palmdale's code: By 10:00 p.m. on the day of collection or within 2 hours after actual collection, whichever is later. (§ 5.52.290); Not more than 24 hours before collection is scheduled to commence (§ 5.52.290).
General information, not legal advice.
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